Fluid handling – With cleaner – lubrication added to fluid or liquid sealing... – Cleaning or steam sterilizing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-26
2001-03-13
Walton, George L. (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
With cleaner, lubrication added to fluid or liquid sealing...
Cleaning or steam sterilizing
C015S104310, C004SDIG007, C137S244000, C137S315330, C137S357000, C137S527800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199576
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to backflow preventers and sewer cleanouts, and more specifically to sewer line backflow preventers and cleanouts.
2. Background Information
Houses in modern residential areas are connected to municipal sewer lines by underground sewer pipes. If a house has a basement, the sewer lines are typically at a depth that the sewer line can go through the floor of the basement and under the basement walls. It is currently required that every such municipal sewer line connection to a house include a backflow preventer and an access for cleaning out the sewer line. The cleanout access is typically in the form of a Y, called a sanitary T, with an extension which reaches the ground level, and containing a plug which may be removed to allow clean out. The purpose of the cleanout is to allow periodic cleaning of the sewer lines from the house to the main sewer line.
Somewhere in the line, typically inside the house under the backflow preventer is a flap which allows fluid to flow in only one direction. When fluid flows from the opposite direction, the flap seals against a seat, preventing fluid from passing through the flap. The purpose of the backflow preventer is to keep sewage from backing up into the house in the event of a blockage of the municipal sewer line. Once the backflow preventer is installed, subsequent remodeling of the house can result in the backflow preventer being buried in a wall, covered by flooring, or the home owner may not know where it is. Locating the backflow preventer may be difficult, if not impossible, when it is necessary to clean the sewer line. In order to clean the sewer line between inside the house and the outside cleanout, it is necessary for a service person to enter the house with equipment, possibly soiling carpets and creating a mess where he is working, disrupting the household and requiring that some one be at home when the service is performed.
The backflow preventer is installed in a different location than the cleanout, and the cleaning tool must pass through it to clean from inside the house to the cleanout outside the house. The cleaning tool typically has rotating blades which scrape the sides of the sewer pipe. The rotating blades are extended into the sewer line by a cable. When the cleanout tool passes through the backflow preventer, it passes through in one direction without any problems. However, when the cleanout tool must be withdrawn from the line, it can snag on the backflow preventer, damaging or destroying the flap, or wearing a groove in one side of the backflow preventer which prohibits the backflow preventer from sealing against the flow of liquid. When the sewage line has a blockage, sewage will back up into every house in which the backflow preventer is not functioning properly, resulting in flooded basements and damaged or ruined walls, carpets, furniture and other household possessions. The municipality typically pays for these damages.
What is needed is a system that accomplishes the task of a backflow preventer, but allows a cleaning tool to pass through it without damaging it. Also needed is a method to allow access to sewer lines outside the house and permit cleaning of the all sewer lines both inside the house and outside.
Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a backflow preventer that can be cleaned out by a sewer line cleaning tool and not be damaged by passage of the cleanout tool. It is a further object to provide a sewer line cleanout access available at ground level outside of a house, and provide a bidirectional cleanout which allows the sewer line to be cleaned in two directions, toward the house and toward the municipal sewer line. This cleanout is to clean the entire line with no “dead” spots which are inaccessible to the sewer cleaning tool.
It is a further object to provide a backflow check valve that is replaceable and serviceable from ground level outside the house without digging, even though the backflow check valve may be located many feet under the ground.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description as follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects are accomplished by a pipeline backflow check valve and bi-directional cleanout which is installed and used in a sewer pipeline. The basic unit is a bi-directional cleanout for directing a cleanout tool towards either end of a pipeline in which one end of the pipeline is toward the house, and the other is toward the municipal sewer line. The bi-directional cleanout allows the line cleaning with no dead spots in the line.
The bi-directional cleanout unit includes a generally tubular first guide tube, which extends from grade level to attachment to a pipe level unit. The first guide tube serves to guide a cleanout tool into the pipeline in a direction towards the first end of the pipeline.
The bi-directional cleanout unit also includes a generally tubular second guide tube, which extends from grade level to attachment to a pipe level unit. The second guide tube serves to guide a cleanout tool into the pipeline in a direction towards the second end of the pipeline.
Also included in the invention is a pipe level unit. The pipe level unit is a fitting in which the two tool-guiding channels are brought together. The pipeline level unit includes a first direction tool guide, which attaches at one end to the first guide tube, and which directs the cleanout tool into the pipeline towards the first end of the pipeline. The pipeline level unit includes a second direction tool guide, which attaches at one end to the second guide tube, and which directs the cleanout tool into the pipeline towards the second end of the pipeline. The tool guides direct the cleanout tool along paths which intersect with each other, so that the pipeline can cleaned out without leaving dead spots, uncleaned regions, or areas where the cleanout tool can't reach.
The bi-directional cleanout may include a backflow check valve. The backflow check valve is removable without digging, and serves to allow a flow of fluid in one direction, but prevents flow from the opposite direction. The backflow check valve is a flap which is hinged on one side, and which fits against a check valve seat. The flap open freely in fluid flow from one direction, but fluid flow from the other direction causes the flap of the check valve to shut against the check valve seat, and stop the flow of fluid. The check valve and cleanout unit can also be provided with a means of removing the backflow check valve. The means for removing the check valve can be a separate tube with guide rails, channels, or ridges, inside the tube, which would extend from the position of the pipe level unit, to ground level. The channels, rails or ridges are located inside the check valve access tube and assist in the removal of the check valve to ground level or the installation of the check valve at the sewer pipe level. A rod can be attached to the check valve, and can extend to ground level, to facilitate removing the check valve by lifting the rod up the tube.
The pipeline backflow check valve and bi-directional cleanout can include a ground level unit in which the two guide tubes are brought together, and the means of removing the backflow check valve is also terminated. In this aspect of the invention, guide tube selectors are provided which allow a cleanout tool to be routed to either the first guide tube or the second guide tube. This ground level unit has an access opening and a cap, and provides a single point of access to the two guide tube selectors and the means of backflow check valve access tube. This unit may include
Dykas Frank J.
Shaver Robert L.
Walton George L.
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